Time to box clever on selection issue

Fere we are, looking on aghast yet again as the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) airs more of its dirty linen out in public, writes Brendan O’Brien.

It’s October 1969. Monty Python is debuting on the BBC, millions of Americans are taking to the streets to protest the country’s ongoing prosecution of the Vietnam War and a handful of Republic of Ireland players are meeting with the FAI in a Manchester hotel in a bid to bring an end to the days when the national team is selected by a bunch of old guys in suits.

To be fair to the blazers, their eyes were open.